Tag attaching device



Feb. 8, 1955 c. A. FLooD TAG ATTACHING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001'.. A3l, 1951 Pf Z? ,gal

Feb. 8, 1955 c. A. FLOOD 2,701,486

` TAG ATTACHING DEVICE Filed oct. 51, 1951 4 sheets-sheet 2 Feb. 8, 1955r c. A. FLOOD 2,701,486

TAG ATTACHING DEVICE vFiled oct. 31, 1951 l 4 sheets-sheets Jnuefor 4 ma i700@ ,MMM

Feb. 8, 1955 c. A. FLOOD 2,701,486 l TAG ATTACHING DEVICE Filed OCT.. 3l, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 n Fig. 11 is a section on line 11--11 of Fig. 10;

Figs. 12 to 14 are enlarged detail views;

Figs. 15 and 16 are side views of a looped strand;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged plan view;

Figs. 18 and 19 are enlarged side elevations;

Fig. 20 is .a section on line 28-28 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged view of a modied needle, parts being broken away;

Fig. 22 is a section on line 22-22 of Fig. 2l;

Fig. 23 is a plan view of a loop positioning devlce; and

Fig. 24 is a side view of said device.

In the illustrative embodiment shown in the drawings the attaching device comprises a frame 1, a plunger 2 carrying a needle 3, a hand lever 4 operating a clip feeding mechanism 6 and a clinching and cutting die 7, and two magazines 8 and 9 respectively for holding a supply of clips C and string S.

The frame 1 has two portions 1a and 1b held together 'by screws 18 and 19 (Figs. l and 2) and forming three interior chambers 13, 14 and 15 (Fig. 6) running longitudinally of the frame. At the rear end of the frame a circular plate 17 fastened to the frame portion 1a by screws 18 and 19 provides a separating wall between the magazine caps 8 and 9. The left magazine cap 8 is attached to the left frame plate 1b by a hinge 21. The right magazine cap 9 is similarly attached to the right frame portion 1a. A spring detent 22 attached to the separating plate 17 by a screw 24 and clamping block 26, snaps into pockets 23 integrally formed at the bottom of the magazine caps. The string S is fed from within the magazine cap 9 through an opening 27 (Fig. 2). Clamped in the chamber 13 within the upper part of the frame 1 are a pair of guide plates 31 and 32 in which are opposed grooves forming a tube 33 through which a ribbon of clips C are fed from the left magazine 8 to the anvil 10. A tapered groove 34 at the rear of the right-hand frame portion 1a communicates between the clip magazine 8 and the rear end of groove 33 (Fig. 5). At the forward end of the guide plate 31 an extension 36 of the guide plate carrying the groove 33 curves toward the anvil 10. A feed pawl, to be hereinafter described, advances the ribbon of clips through the groove 33. The right-hand guide plate 32 carries a complementing groove and extends further forward `to a hooked extension 40 comprising a guard for the needle 3 (Figs. 1 and 17).

The manually actuated lever 4 is pivoted to the frame 1 by a bolt 41. A spring 42 coiled about the bolt 41 has two extensions 43 and 44 engaging a shoulder 54 and the lever 4 respectively resiliently to urge the lever away from the frame. The lever has right and left integral guard plates 46 which telescope over the outside of the frame 1. Secured to the lever between the guard plates 46 is a yoke 47 having two upwardly extending arms 43 and 49. Pivotally secured between the arms 48 and 49 is a straight link 51. At its upper end the link 51 is pvotally connected to a sliding block 52. The block 52 slides in the chamber 15 formed within the two frame portions 1a and 1b (Figs. 3, 5 and 6) and has a portion 53 extending forward of the frame in which extension is formed the die 7. When the lever 4 is squeezed toward the frame the link 51 urges the block 52 rearwardly against the tension of the spring 42 which engages the shoulder 54 on the block 52. Also sliding in the chamber l is a second block 58 to the rear of the rst block 52. A heavy coil spring 59 within the block 58 urges the block 58 against a stop 61. Extending forwardly from the block 58 is an elongate iinger 62 which terminates in the anvil face 10. As shown in Fig. 6 the finger 62 and the block 52 nest in the chamber 15. Above the blocks 52 and 58 is a at strip 63 having a flange 64 at its rear which abuts against the rear end of the chamber 15. The forward end of the strip 63 terminates in a knife or cutter 64 disposed beside the forward end of the extension 62 from the block 58. As shown in Fig. 3 the cutting edge of the knife 64 is even with the anvil 10.

Disposed between the left-hand guard plate 46 of the lever 4 and left frame portion 1b is a plate 71 pvotally attached at its forward end to a bell crank 6 by screw 72 and carrying a cam slot 73 at its rear end which is engaged by a pin 74 xed to the left-hand guard plate 46. An ear 76 turned in from the guard plate 46 engages in a slot 77 extending lengthwise of the plate 71. When the lever 4 is squeezed toward the frame 1 the ear 76 ltration of the material.

raises the plate 71 camming the plate 71 rearwardly and thereby causing the bell crank 6 to swing about its pivot 106 (Figs. 1 and 19). The upper portion of the cam slot 73 produces all the movement of the plate 71 during the initial actuation of the hand lever 4. Thereafter the pin 74 dwells in the lower portion of the cam slot whlch is curved concentrically with the pivot 41 of the handle lever 4 and hence does not move the plate 71 on subsequent actuation of the lever. During this subsequent actuation the clinching and cutting die 7 is operated as will be described later.

As shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6 and 18, the right-hand arm 49 of the yoke 47 has an extension 50 passing through an opening 81 in the underside of the frame 1 and through the chamber 15 (Fig. 6) with its upper end normally disposed below the chamber 14 in which the plunger 2 reciprocates and slightly ahead of the end 72 of the plunger. As shown in Fig. 5 when the lever 4 is squeezed towards the frame the extension or stop 50 moves into the chamber 14 in front of the forward end 72' of the plunger 2 to block forward movement of the plunger while the lever is actuated. On the other hand if the plunger is moved forward the stop 50 cannot enter the chamber 14 and hence prevents the lever from being actuated.

As shown in Figs. l0 and l1 the plunger 2 carrying the needle 3 comprises a hollow rectangular casing 76 having a button of rubber 77 at its rear end and a plug of metal 78 at its forward end. Between the plug and the button the rectangular casing 76 encloses a block 79 guided on a rod 81 and urged forwardly by a spring 82. The block 79 has a threaded hole 83 receiving a screw 84 (Fig. l) which tixes the block 79 relative to the frame 1. The rear end of the needle 3 is anchored in the plug 78 by a set screw 84. On the underside of the plunger 2 is a shallow recess 86 which as is shown in Fig. 18 is adapted to be engaged by the stop or extension 50 of the yoke arm 49. The plunger 2 is adapted to reciprocate between the rear position shown in Fig. 1 to the forward position shown in Fig. 18. When in the forward position the lever 4 may be actuated to insert the stop 50 n the recess 86 to hold the plunger in forward position.

As shown in Fig. 11 the needle 3 having a passage 90 comprises a thick rear portion 88 anchored in the block 78 and a slender forward portion 89 connected to the heavy portion by the joint 87. A slit 91 communicating with the passage extends longitudinally of the heavy portion 88, the joint 87 and the forward portion 89. As shown in Figs. 11 and 18 the joint is provided with a transverse slot 95 which opens into the passage 90. Sliding in the passage 20 is a pin 92 having a nger 93 extending from within the passage out through the slit 91. To the rear of the joint 87 a collar 94 slides on the rear thick portion 88. The linger 93 of the pin 92 is engaged in an opening 96 through the sleeve 94. As shown in Fig. 17 the sleeve 94 has an ear 97 secured at its rear end. When the plunger 2 is in its forward position the collar 94 may be reciprocated between the rear position shown in Fig. ll and the forward position shown in Figs. 17 and 18 by manipulation of the ear 97 to move the tip 98 of the pin 92 from a position just to the rear of the joint 87 (Fig. 1l) to a position at the tip of the needle 3 (Fig. 18). If the plunger 2 returns to its rear position the finger 93 of the pin engages an abutment 105 on the plate 32 urging the collar and pin forwardly in the needle. The tip 98 of the pin 92 is flattened to prevent the pin or thread from slipping through the longitudinal slit 91.

An alternate form of needle 3a, shown in Figs. 21 and 22 is provided with a bridge element 135 spanning the longitudinal slit 91 adjacent its tip. The bridge element serves to prevent the strand 5 from being dislodged from the slit while the needle is passed through an article of sheet material. As shown in Fig. 22 the bridge is bowed inwardly toward the slit to provide a trough in which the free end of the strand S nests so as to facilitate pene- Whether the needle shown in Figs. 10 and 11 or that shown in Figs. 21 and 22 is used, the needle is advanced beyond the frame for threading or sewing. Either needle may be used with or without the bridge member of Figs.

The clip feeding mechanism shown in detail in Figs. 7, 8, 18 and 19 comprises the aforementioned bell crank 6 which includes a crank arm 101 and a bifurcated arm 102. Integrally formed with the crank arm 101 is a aromas collar `103 extending laterally therefrom (Fig. 7). The collar 103 and the crank larm `1,01 are rpivota'ljly fixed .to a stud '104 .T('Fig. '5) on 'the guide plate l, by a iscrew '106 engaging fin Jthe stud. rThe Ibrtu'rcatedarm 102 is fixed -to the collar 103by asplit s'leeve107.. Extending radially from the split `sleeve 1 07 aregtwo clamping yblocks 108 urged ltogether "by a screw 110 4to lreduce ,the .diameter of the sleeve 7 and clamp the sleeve and 'the bifurcated arm 102 Von the collar '103. .Mounted `on the bifurcated -arm -102fjs a pawl member 109 pivoted at 111 .and 4having a ringer '112 ',(Figs. 7 and .8). The nger 1112 curves around the lgrooved extension '36 of 4the guide plate 31 and `enters the track 33 formed by the grooves in the :guide 31 and 32. 'A spring '113 yieldingly urges the Yfinger 112 into fthe track.

A sshow-n'in Figtheelips-C are vformed in a U -shaped -rlibbon -with complementary vpoints "1,00 .and 100a. The individual clips are rspaced, apart and 4joined b y a lug portion 100b of reduced cross section. The clips are advanced'by 'engagement of "the linger 112 with `a shoulder 100e `formed Aby an indentation 4in the underside .of each `clip Land -by subsequentmovement ofthe `bell crank. When the bell crank 6 is swung "by the plate k71 the finger 112 moves through a .Small ,arc sufficient .to ,advance one clip from the end of the track 33 onto ythe anvil 10.

The anvil F110 comprlsing fhe lat .fend of :the extension .6 2 .from the `sliding block 58 is disposed ...opposite the die 7 .on an extension '53 from the sliding 'block 52` (Fig. 3). The die, shown enlarged in Figs. ,"12 lto 14, comprises .a socket having sides 121 `spaced apart the zwidth ,of .the .clip to be clinched and having aforward edge 122 opposed .to the 4anvil face 10. As vwill 'be morejfu'l'ly described .two juxtaposedportions ofthe strand 'S are disposed between the sides 121 'preparatory to the clipping operation. Curved fillets 123 between .the Slides 121 and end 122 are designed yto turn the points 100 and 100a of .the clip C toward each other when Athe die# is moved rearwardly against the anvil 10, as shown in Fig. 13. The spring 59 which urges the anvil forward so that it lies flush with the cutting edge 64 of the knife 63 is of sufficient strength to hold the anvil in the normal positions shown in Figs. 12 and 13 against the force which the die 7 applies to the clip C. When the points 100 and 100a are clinched into juxtaposition with each other and compressed around the strands S the force applied by the die is then suflicient to urge the anvil rearwardly against the spring 59 permitting the rear face 122 of the die 7 to advance rearwardly of the xed cutting edge 64 of the knife 63 so that the cutting edge 64 and the rear face 122 shear the strand S and the connecting lug 100b of the clip C. To shear both juxtaposed portions of the strand S (Fig. 15) both portions are held at right angles to the knife 63. If it is desired to leave one strand S extending beyond the clip (Fig. 16) the strand S is laid in a recess 126 at the side of the extension 53 so that as shown in Figs. 12 to 14, the strand S lies inside the cutting edge 64 as the die 7 passes the cutting blade 64.

If desired a strand gathering member 140, shown in Figs. 5, l2, 23 and 24, may be provided adjacent the clinching die 7. The gathering member has hook-forming edges 141 spaced closed together than the sides 121 and end 122 of the die so that the strand portions S and S are held clear of the sides 121 and 122. The gathering member is attached to the sliding block 52, although it may be attached to or form a part of the die 7. 11n either case it moves with the die during the clinching operation and prevents the points 100 and 100a of the clip C from piercing or otherwise undesirably engaging the strands S and S as they are clinched by the die edges 121 and 122. Since the gathering member 140 moves away from the anvil 10 with the die 7, it does not interfere with the manipulation of the strands S and S on the anvil.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 18 and 19, the forward end of the guide plate 33 which carries the needle guard 40 also carries a portion 127 having a groove 128 in which is secured a spring nger 129. The free end 131 of the spring finger is located near the anvil 10 so that the free ends of the strand may be clipped in the groove under the finger before the strands are severed from the loop by the die 7 andthe cutting edge 64.

As shown in Fig. 18 a number of waste ends may be collected under the spring finger until it is convenient to deposit them in a waste receptacle.

`Preparatoig/ `,to .operation the magazine .caps 8 .and 9 are .opened .and a .suppl-y .of .string I,and .clipslis .placed in their .respective .n1agazines- 'The strand .off .ribbon of clips C is manually fed .through the .groove 33 until :the foremost c lip strikes the v.finger 112 on lthe .be'll l.crank 6 4at the forward end of the `groove 3 3, Thereafter the nger 112 will operate with a `ratchet action allowing the leading clips to pass .to fthe end .of the ,curved portion 36 forming part of the track 33, or vone clip may be advanced past the linger 112 and ,the Ylever operated to feed the clips to the fend of the groove 133. The string or strand S ;is then fed through Athe `magazine opening .27, thence underneath the trarne 1 ('Eig. 2,), upwardly along the left-hand frame portion lib, ,and then `is engaged inside the finger 133 lformed by 4the recess 134 lin the lefthand frame portion lfb -('Fig. '2`). The strand Vis then drawn .forward ,1in a slot 136 (Fig. L17) -formed by the spaced upper yportions `of the frame portions 1a and 1b and passed `.through an opening .40a ,through ,the guard 40. The plunger '2 gis .then urged .forward by ,pressing the rubber pad 77 against anyjir'm ,Surface `and the lever 4 actuated to advance the stop p portion 50 of the yoke arm 49 into the recess 86 `of Vthe plunger 2, thereby locking the plunger 'in forward lposition with the needle ad.- vanced beyond the v.guard 40 (Fig. 51:1). The collar i94 is then retracted to the position shown in jFig. 1.1 'in which the ypoint 98 of the 1pin 92 is withdrawn tothe rear of the joint 87. The` end of the strand S is then laid in the transverse slot 9.5 of the joint so that it enters the longitudinal ibore 90 of the ,needle 3 -forwardly of the pin 9,2. The pressure .on the lever 4 is .then released Aallowing the plunger to be lretracted'by force of the `spring L82 and carrying ythe needle rearwardly until the finger 93 of the fpin 92 strikes the abutment 105 on the guide plate 32, urging the pin '92 lforwardly in the needle `3 ,and

threading `the strand v.through the forward yportion 89 o f the needle 3. 'The strand is prevented from withdrawing from the needle by the flattened end 98 of the pin, 92 which clamps the strand against the bore of the needle.

The operation of the device is as follows. The plunger 2 is advanced by pressure on the button 77 and the lever is actuated to engage the stop 50 in the slot or recess 86 and hold the needle 3 in exposed position in advance of the guard 40. While the device is held in one hand the needle is then inserted through the eye E of a tag T and thence through a piece of fabric F as shown in Fig. 5. When the needle has passed the strand through the ticket and fabric the end of the strand is gripped with the 1ingers of the free hand and a suitable length of string is drawn from the magazine through the needle. At the same time the pressure on the lever is released disengaging the stop 50 from the recess 86 and allowing the plunger to retract and withdraw the needle within the guard 40, the guard 40 preventing the fabric from following the needle. The portions of the strand on both sides of the fabric and ticket are then engaged in the die 7 in juxtaposition (Figs. 5 and 12). The lever 4 is again actuated to perform three steps. By its initial movement the lever causes the cam plate 71 to swing the bell crank and feed one clip onto the anvil 10. Because the cam plate dwells on further movement of the lever the finger 112 on the bell crank rests in an advanced position in which it holds the foremost clip on the anvil. Second, further movement of the lever brings the die 53 into engagement with the clip C clinching the points of the clip C around the juxtaposed strands S. Further compression of the lever 4 drives the die suiciently to move the anvil rearwardly against the force of the heavy spring 59 and bring the die past the knife edge 64 thereby severing the loop from the strand, and the clinched clip from the connected series of clips.

By virtue of the present invention the operator is enabled to hold the tag attaching device in one hand while performing the above described operations of locking the needle in advanced position, clipping the string in a loop, and cutting the loop from the string. These operations are further facilitated by the novel string and clip feeding mechanisms.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. For securing juxtaposed portions of a strand with a U-shaped clip holding the strand in a loop, an anvil for backing up the clip, a die movable relatively to the anvil to clinch the clip about said strands, said die having curved Walls for turning the points of the clip, and a strand positioning member adjacent the die and movable therewith, said member having hook forming edges disposed to gather said strand portions and hold them clear of the walls of the die so that the points of the clip do not engage the strand while being clinched around said portions.

2. For securing jmttaposed portions of a strand with a clip holding the strand in a loop, a device comprising anvil and die members for clinching the clip over the loop, a knife beside the members, the parts being relatively movable to clinch the clip and sever the loop successively, an actuator movable through a predetermined path, and means interposed between the actuator and one of said members for moving the member relatively to the other member during a part of its movement and moving the members relatively to the knife during a later part of its movement through said path.

3. For securing juxtaposed portions of a strand with a clip holding the strand in a loop, a device comprising anvil and die members for clinching the clip over the loop, a knife beside the members, the parts being relatively movable to clinch the clip and sever the loop successively, an actuator movable through a predetermined path, means interposed between the actuator and one of said members for moving the member relatively to the other member during a part of its movement and moving the members relatively to the knife during a later part of its movement through said path, and a spring to restore the parts to normal position when the actuator is released.

4. For securing juxtaposed portions of a strand with a clip holding the strand in a loop, a device comprising 35 anvil and die members for clinching the clip over the loop, a knife beside the members, means for feeding a clip between the die and anvil members, the die and anvil members and knife being relatively movable to clinch the clip and sever the loop successively, an actuator movable through a predetermined path, and means interposed between the actuator and one of said members for moving the member relatively to the other member during a part of its movement and moving the members toward each other during another part of its movement and moving the members relatively to the knife durilng still another part of this movement through said pat 5. For securing juxtaposed portions of a strand with a clip holding the strand in a loop, a device comprising anvil and die members for clinching the clip over the loop, a knife beside the members, one member being movable toward the other member to clinch the clip therebetween and then both members being movable past the knife to sever the loop and'said other member being in the path of the one member to be actuated thereby after the clip is clinched therebetween, and an actuator for moving said one member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 844,095 Brooks Feb. 12, 1907 1,747,880 Payzant Feb. 18, 1930 2,022,596 Graham Nov. 26, 1935 2,071,901 Ricketts Feb. 23, 1937 2,315,209 Kost Mar. 30, 1943 2,385,951 Stelzer Oct. 2, 1945 2,475,460 Prescott July 5, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 597,178 Germany May 18, 1934 

